Perth International Arts Festival

The ASQ and Musica Viva Australia have been long-term partners, with the national ensemble music presenter featuring the Quartet in many of its activities through the years.

2017 sees an exciting new relationship around Musica Viva’s FutureMakers artist development initiative, which empowers leading young virtuosi to become Australia’s next generation of outstanding musical performers. The ASQ will collaborate with the Arcadia Winds, the 2015 – 2017 FutureMakers musicians, beginning with a residency at UKARIA Cultural Centre, and culminating with two chamber music performances at the Perth International Arts Festival’s Chamber Music Series. This opportunity to learn from and perform with some of Australia’s best musicians is an important step in the professional development of the energetic young wind ensemble.

The residency and performances, also involving Melbourne bassist Stephen Newton, are an opportunity to collaborate on works by Mozart, Britten, Françaix, Martinů and more contemporary works, including two Australian compositions- the Toccata for String Quartet, Flute and Oboe by Roger Smalley, and a new commission for Wind Quintet, generously supported by the Silo Collective, by Perth based composer, Lachlan Skipworth.

The Perth performances are at 12.30pm on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 February in Winthrop Hall.